A FORMER community centre is set to be razed to the ground to make way for affordable homes.

Councillors have rubber-stamped plans for the former Annfield Plain Community Centre, off FairviewTerrace, near Stanley, which was originally converted from a former schoolhouse.

Under plans by Partner Construction, the brownfield site will be transformed into a 19-home estate.

The decision to approve the homes was made by Durham County Council’s North Area planning committee in line with recommendation from council planners.

While the building is classed as a non-designated heritage asset, councillors were told the plans would provide economic and housing benefits for the area.

An applicant statement, submitted to the council, states the development would support the employment of 58 people and bring in around £32,000 in council tax receipts.

Developers also plan to provide 100 per cent affordable homes on site.

Committee chairman, Coun Ivan Jewell, said: “This was an old school of mine and I also used to live straight opposite for a short period of time.

“I get a little worried when houses and buildings that you saw built getting pulled down but I suppose that’s one sign of getting old.”

He added: “It’s better that something happens with the site rather than standing and deteriorating in that way.”

In response to a question from Coun John Clare, the applicant confirmed new homes would aim to reflect elements of the former school building’s design.

Planners added a condition would protect original school boundary walls on the south and west sides to retain history of the site.

As part of a Section 106 legal agreement between the council and developer, £1,311 will channelled into health services in the area to meet demand.

This sum followed requests from division councillors who said they would object to the plans if the funds were not provided.

A council request for £33,201 towards off-site open space was also knocked back by the developer as it would make the development “unviable”, a report states.

Coun Alan Shield also backed the plans crediting the “sustainable location” on a brownfield site.

He also asked for reassurance that Section 106 funds would be secured and division councillors kept informed in future.

The development will include 11 two-bedroom homes and eight three-bedroom homes, with two spaces per property, alongside visitor parking.

A planning report concludes: “The heritage aspects of the proposals have only been partially addressed by the applicants but are ultimately accepted in consideration of the application as a whole, noting the positive of the retention of the school wall on the site boundary.

“Refusal of the application on this issue is likely to be unsustainable.”